Combined flashlight and chemical expelling device

ABSTRACT

A can of aerosol expelled chemical is combined with a flashlight, and chemical from the can passes through a conduit and out through a dispensing nozzle arranged so that the chemical is dispensed toward the same point on which the flashlight beam impinges. Means are provided for selectively dispensing the chemical from the can.

D United States Patent 1151 3,638,836 Vickers, III 1 1 Feb. 1 1972 [54] COMBINED FLASHLIGHT AND 1,299,076 4/1919 Wasylowich ..222/192X CHEMICAL EXPELLING DEVICE 2,597,565 5/1952 Chandler et a1... 240/1062 X 2,755,973 7/1956 Campbell ..222/394 Inventor: h rl W- k I Jacksonville. Fla. 2,629,516 2/1953 Badham ..222/113 x [73] Assigneez Percy Rosenbloomh. 3,035,738 4/1959 Bloom ..222/113 [22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1970 Primary ExaminerSamuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, J r. [21] Appl' 9254 Attorney-George H. Baldwin and Arthur G. Yeager Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 757,856, Sept. 6, 1968, [57] ABSTRACT abandoned.

A can of aerosol expelled chemical is comblned with a 521 u.s.c1 ..222/113 240/1066 flashlighmnd chemicalfmmthe Passeshmughawndui [51] Int. Cl .B67d 5/66 and out through a dispensing nozzle arranged so that the 581 Field of Search ..222/192 174 113 394 475, chemical is dispensed wward Same which the 222/465 240/64 2 10,62 i flashlight beam impinges. Means are provided for selectively dispensing the chemical from the can. [56] References Cited 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,577,857 12/1951 Parisotto ..222/1l3 2,598,357 5/1952 Coleman ..222/ll3 air-T, ":1 30 a if: 5 K

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i I v fi a COMBINED FLASHLIGI'IT AND CHEMICAL EXPELLING DEVICE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of my application, Ser. No. 757,856, filed Sept. 6, 1968, now abandoned, entitled RIOT CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR FLASHLIGHTS.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a combined flashlight and chemical expelling device for supporting an aerosol chemical deterrent dispensing can and more particularly to an attachment for such a flashlight in which a conduit extends parallel to the flashlight and is arranged to dispense the chemical from the aerosol can toward the same point where the beam of the flashlight would illuminate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the prior art use of aerosol expelled chemicals as deterrents the riot control officer would carry an aerosol can in one hand, depressing the dispensing valve with one finger in order to tire a charge of chemical toward a rioter. At night when a flashlight became necessary, the officer held the flashlight in one hand and the aerosol can in the other completely eliminating the possibility of carrying a gun or billy club in hand and ready for use. With the present invention, the officer can hold the combined flashlight and chemical expelling device in one hand while holding the gun or billy club in the other hand ready for instant use.

In accord with the invention an elongated casing means houses a light bulb and focusing beam reflector assembly at a forward end thereof and orients same to forwardly direct a beam of light from the bulb. The casing means includes two chambers with a battery means for illuminating the bulb in one chamber and a pressurized can of chemicals in the other chamber. An elongated conduit has one end disposed in the other chamber and extends forwardly therefrom and terminates in a forwardly directed outlet adjacent the reflector assembly. Manually operable means are provided for dispensing chemicals from the can through the conduit to the outlet.

In accord with other aspects of the invention, the chambers are generally cylindrical and are axially aligned with the casing means also being cylindrical rearwardly of the reflector assembly. Furthermore, the chambers may be releasably connected to permit ready replacement of the can.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a combination flashlight and chemical expelling device which is useful for general illumination and for aiming the charge ofchemical deterrentv Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to construct and assemble and which will withstand the forces of hard usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the combined flashlight and chemical expelling device in accord with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 shown partially broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a combined flashlight and chemical expelling device constructed in accordance with the invention.

The combined flashlight and chemical expelling device 10 includes a flashlight 11 having a generally cylindrical elongated battery case 12 terminating in a flared base 13 at one end and a bell-shaped light reflector 14 at the opposite end. The flashlight 11 is of completely conventional design and may be any of the commercially available flashlights of this general nature.

A generally cylindrical cover 15 is secured to the base 13 by any suitable means including cement, soldering, and detachable screws. The cover 15 has an annular flange 16 extending outwardly away from the base 13 of the flashlight I1 and adapted to telescopically receive a cylindrical container 17 which is secured therein by a setserew l8 threaded through the flange l6 and engaging against the container 17 as can be best seen in FIG. 2. The container 17 has a closed end 19 opposite the cover 15 with a central bore 20 opening therethrough. An actuator shaft S extends through the bore 20 and is provided with a knob K on its outer end. A head H is formed on the inner end of the shaft S to secure the shaft S against detachment from the closed end 19. A safety chain 21 is secured to the container 17 at one end and to a spring clip 22 at the opposite end to prevent the loss of the spring clip 22. The shaft S has a groove 23 formed therein to receive the spring clip 22 to serve as a safety to prevent inward movement of the shaft S until the spring clip 22 is removed.

A boss 24 is formed on the flange l6 and extends outwardly therefrom having a threaded bore 25 extending therein parallel to the axis of the cover 15 and intersecting a threaded bore 26 extending radially through the flange l6 and boss 24. An L- shaped conduit 27 is threaded into the threaded bore 26 and extends inwardly of the cover 15 terminating in a short portion 28 arranged axially of the cover 15 and opening toward the closed end wall 19 of the container 17. An elongated conduit 29 is threaded into the threaded bore 25 at one end and extends parallel to the flashlight 11. The conduit 29 is bowed outwardly at 30 to be generally parallel to the reflector l4 and terminates in a dispensing nozzle or outlet 31 at its outer end. A flexible strap 32 encompasses the flashlight I1 and the conduit 29 to secure the conduit 29 thereto.

An aerosol can 33 of conventional construction is positioned in the container 17 and has its dispensing valve structure 34 arranged in communication with the conduit 27 so that when the aerosol can 33 is moved toward the conduit 27 the dispensing valve 34 is depressed and pressurized fluid from the can 33 through the conduits 27, 29 and out through the outlet 31. The aerosol can 33 is moved within the container 17 by pressing on the knob K with the actuator shaft S extending through the bore 20 and the head H bearing against the bottom of the can 33.

The aerosol can 33 contains a liquid material which will be dispensed by the aerosol as a deterrent gas. Among liquids useful for this purpose are mace," a phenylchloromethylketone, manufactured by the General Ordnance Equipment Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., or any of the more commonly known tear gases, such as monoethanolamine. In the use and operation of the invention, the riot control officer can aim the flashlight using of course the beam of light therefrom, and when it is necessary to discharge a quantity of deterrent chemical or gas toward the offenders, he can press the knob K against his chest while maintaining the aim of the flashlight by means of the light beam. The riot control officer can carry suitable additional weapons in his other hand ready for instant use when such is necessary.

Complete usage of the liquid in the aerosol container may be achieved from the horizontal position used in this combination by weighting the intake tube within the can so that it will fall to the lower side of the can.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. lt is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A riot control attachment for flashlights of the type including a cylindrical battery case having a base at one end thereof and a light reflector at the opposite end thereof comprising a container arranged in axial alignment with said bat tery case, means detachably securing said container to said base, a deterrent-chemical-containing aerosol can mounted in said container, a conduit secured to said flashlight terminating adjacent said reflector, and means for dispensing chemicals from said aerosol can through said conduit.

2. A device as claimed in claim I wherein said aerosol can is provided with a dispensing valve and said conduit is arranged in contact with said dispensing valve whereby upon actuation of the means for dispensing chemicals from said aerosol can said chemicals are fed through said conduit.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided encompassing said flashlight and said conduit for detachably securing said conduit to said flashlight.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means securing said container to said flashlight includes a cover having an annular flange telescopically receiving said container and means on said flange securing said container thereto.

5. In a combined flashlight and chemical expelling device comprising an elongated casing means for housing a iight bulb and focusing beam reflector assembly at a forward end thereof and oriented to forwardly direct a beam of light from said bulb, said casing means including two chambers in end to alignment, battery means for illuminating said bulb in one of said chambers, a pressurized can of chemicals in the other of said chambers, an elongated conduit having one end disposed in said other chamber and extending forwardly therefrom and terminating in a forwardly directed outlet adjacent said reflector, and manually operable means for dispensing chemicals from said can through said conduit to said outlet whereby chemicals are directed generally in the direction of the beam of light.

6. In the device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said casing means further includes means for detachably securing said chambers together.

7. In the device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said casing means rearwardly of said reflector assembly is generally cylindrical with each of said chambers being in axial alignment.

8. In the device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said manually operable means includes a dispensing valve located at the outlet of said can and means exposed outwardly of said casing for selectively operating said dispensing valve.

9. In the device as claimed in claim 5 wherein each, said chambers are cylindrical.

10. In the device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cylindrical chambers are axially aligned. 

1. A riot control attachment for flashlights of the type including a cylindrical battery case having a base at one end thereof and a light reflector at the opposite end thereof comprising a container arranged in axial alignment with said battery case, means detachably securing said container to said base, a deterrent-chemical-containing aerosol can mounted in said container, a conduit secured to said flashlight terminating adjacent said reflector, and means for dispensing chemicals from said aerosol can through said conduit.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aerosol can is provided with a dispensing valve and said conduit is arranged in contact with said dispensing valve whereby upon actuation of the means for dispensing chemicals from said aerosol can said chemicals are fed through said conduit.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided encompassing said flashlight and said conduit for detachably securing said conduit to said flashlight.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means securing said container to said flashlight includes a cover having an annular flange telescopically receiving said container and means on said flange securing said container thereto.
 5. In a combined flashlight and chemical expelling device comprising an elongated casing means for housing a light bulb and focusing beam reflector assembly at a forward end thereof and oriented to forwardly direct a beam of light from said bulb, said casing means including two chambers in end to alignment, battery means for illuminating said bulb in one of said chambers, a pressurized can of chemicals in the other of said chambers, an elongated conduit having one end disposed in said other chamber and extending forwardly therefrom and terminating in a forwardly directed outlet adjacent said reflector, and manually operable means for dispensing chemicals from said can through said conduit to said outlet whereby chemicals are directed generally in the direction of the beam of light.
 6. In the device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said casing means further includes means for detachably securing said chambers together.
 7. In the device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said casing means rearwardly of said reflector assembly is generally cylindrical with each of said chambers being in axial alignment.
 8. In the device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said manually operable means includes a dispensing valve located at the outlet of said can and means exposed outwardly of said casing for selectively operating said dispensing valve.
 9. In the device as claimed in claim 5 wherein each, said chambers are cylindrical.
 10. In the device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said Cylindrical chambers are axially aligned. 